Cover for articles of merchandise



March 29, 1955 c. L. LAUGHLIN COVER FOR ARTICLES 0F MERCHANDISE Filed Mar ch 18, 1953 Cec United States Patent COVER FOR ARTICLES 0F MERCHANDISE Cecil L. Laughlin, Portland, Oreg.

Application March 18, 1953, Serial No. 343,146

,2 Claims. (Cl. 41-10) This invention pertains to covers for articles of merchandise, and relates particularly to a decorative cover for removably concealing such articles of household merchandise as bottles, jars, cosmetic cases, bread toasters and other articles of general utility in the home.

lt is the principal object of the present invention to provide a decorative cover, preferably in the form of a .doll, constructed as a self-supported unit and adapted to cover articles of general household utility which are of diverse shapes and sizes.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a decorative cover constructed in the form of a doll and being substantially hollow to accommodate the covering of bottles and other articles having elongated neck sections.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a decorative cover which is constructed with a releasable base by which an article to be concealed is supported within the said cover.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

. Figure l is a view in front elevation of a cover em-t bodying the features of this invention and constructed in the form of a doll, the same being shown supporting and covering a bottle, parts of the cover being broken, away to disclose details of construction;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2--2 in.

Figure l; a

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33,

in Figure l; Y

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation showing a modified construction of the cover embodying the features of, the present invention, parts thereof being broken away to show details of construction; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5--5 in Figure 4.

In its broad aspect the cover of the present invention comprises a body, shaped in the form of a doll or other decorative and attractive design, the body being formed about a hollow casing and supported in proper elevation upon a hollow framework.

Referring to Figures 1-3 of the drawing, the embodiment of the present invention illustrated therein comprises a hollow casing made of metal, plastic or other suitable material. The casing is preferably tapered upwardly and closed at its upper end 11. The bottom end of the casing supports an outwardly extending circumferential flange l2. Secured to this flange adjacent the casing 10 are the upper ends of a plurality of vertical rods 13. In the illustrated construction the four rods are formed of two lengths of wire each of which is bent intermediate its ends to form a U-shaped frame. The intermediate section 14 of each frame is secured, as by soldering 15, to the flange 12 and the rods extend downwardly therefrom.

The bottom ends of rods 13 function as feet upon which the cover device is positioned on a table or other support. These'bottom ends may be coiled into a loop, for example, to present a smooth and finished appearance. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawing, the bottom ends of two of the rods are formed as loops 16 which extend through openings in a base plate 17, while the bottom ends of the other two rods are merely bent upwardly to form hooks 18. These hooks extend upwardly through openings in the base o vb Ice 0 with the neck 20 of the bottle extending into casing 10.

The base plate is then by books 18.

The casing 10 and flange 12 form the base for the torso of a doll or other figure. In the illustrated form, the doll torso is constructed of a covering material 21, such as a stocking or other cloth, or a plastic sheet material, which is filled with a stuffing material 22, such as cotton batting. The preferred procedure for constructing the doll torso is as follows: The covering material 21 is first formed as a cylinder, open at both ends. This cylinder is then slipped over the casing 10 and the bottom end 23 is lapped under the flange 12 and secured thereto by a thread 24 which is passed through the material and also returned to position and secured through circumferentially spaced openings provided in,-

the flange. The cotton batting 22 is then stuffed into after which the top end of the cylinder is sealed.

The form of the doll is then shaped by manipulation of the stulfing material 22 and by tying a band 25 at the waist and another band 26 at the neck, thereby forming the torso 27 and head 28 of the doll. Arms 29, constructed of the covering material and filled with stuffing material, are secured to the torso as shown. A skirt 30 is secured about the waist of the doll and extends downwardly to the feet end of rods 13, thereby completely concealing the framework of rods and the article 19 confined within the latter. The skirt is preferably detachable from the torso 27 to facilitate cleaning and substitution of skirts of different styles and colors, as desired.

The modification illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawing is similar in the structural details of the doll and of the casing 10, and therefore the same reference numerals are applied thereto. In this modification the casing 10 supports an outwardly extending flange 32 which is rectangular in plan view. Secured to the bottom side of this flange adjacent each of the edges thereof is the intermediate section 33 of a U-shaped frame formed by bending a length of wire rod 34 intermediate its ends. Each of these U-shaped frames projects outwardly from the flange 32 and then curves arcuately downward to the terminal looped ends 35 of the rods. A brace rod 36 extends between and is secured to the rods 34 of each U-shaped frame to maintain said rods in proper alignment.

The open lower end 37 of covering material 21 of the doll is lapped over the intermediate sections 33 of the frame rods and is secured to the flange 32 by passing a thread 38 through said material and through spaced openings formed in the flange.

The modification shown in Figures 4 and 5 may be made in various sizes. For example, a small size is adapted to enclose and conceal a rectangular perfume bottle. A large size is adapted to conceal a large decanter. A large size is also adapted to conceal a cookie jar, for example, or a bread toaster as another example.

In both of the modifications shown in the drawing it is to be observed that the cover doll is properly proportioned in height and yet is capable of concealing an arti-: cle, such as the bottle 19, which is almost as tall as the doll itself. This is afforded by the hollow construction of the doll torso 27 which is formed about the casing 10.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the structural details de-, scribed hereinbefore without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is illustrative and is not to be construed in a limiting sense.

Having now described my invention and the manner in which the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cover for articles of merchandise, comprising a memos hollow casing member having a closed top and a lateral flange extending outwardly from the bottom end thereof, a doll torso and head formed about the casing member and including a covering material secured to said flange and extending upwardly therefrom and stufling material filling the space between the covering material and the outer surface of said flanged casing, hollow framework means extending downwardly from the flanged cas ing and proportioned to envelope an article to be covered; and concealing means secured to the doll body and extending downwardly over the said framework means.

2. A cover for articles of merchandise, comprising a hollow casing member having a closed top and a lateral flange extending outwardly from the bottom end thereof, a doll torso and head formed about the casing member and including a covering material secured to said flange and extending upwardly therefrom and stuffing material.

filling the space between the covering material and the outer surface of said flanged casing, hollow framework means extending downwardly from the flanged casing, an article-supporting base member releasably secured to the framework means adjacent the bottom thereof, and concealing skirt means secured to the doll body and extending downwardly over the said framework means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

